by Jessica Kwong

photo credit yahoo sports Nick Tropeano Angels starter

ANAHEIM—The suffering Athletics were hit with a humiliating 8-1 loss Tuesday to the Angels who rise to a half game lead for the second Wild Card. A’s left fielder Max Muncy hit a home run in the fifth inning — and the only run for the club. The Angels scored two runs in the first inning, four in the fourth, one in the fifth and one in the eighth to round out their victory.

Oakland starting pitcher Chris Bassitt got shelled, allowing six runs and giving up eight hits. He attributed it to “falling into the trap that I feel so good that I’m going out there and I’m just kind of throwing instead of pitching.”
“And just being just stupid, honestly,” Bassitt continued. “I mean feel way too good to be doing what I’m doing.”

A’s Manager Bob Melvin was less critical of Bassitt, saying, “his stuff was good today” and it was just his command that was missing.
“He’s still a little rusty on where he’s throwing the ball,” Melvin said, adding of Bassitt’s pitches, “I looked up and I saw 97’s, some 96’s, some 95’s. There was still some movement to it. Maybe not his best breaking stuff but I think he’s still working himself back as far as command goes.”

Angels starting pitcher Nick Tropeano, on the other hand, easily worked through the A’s hitters, reaching a career-high 11 strikeouts. A’s left fielder Stephen Vogt praised Tropeano’s skill. “He’s funky, he’s got some hesitation in his delivery, his ball moves a lot, he changes speeds really effectively with his fast ball – just kind of funky,” Vogt said. “It’s hard pick up his breaking ball. Threw some really good change-ups and splitties as well, he’s got good stuff he stays down on his own. “

The A’s on Tuesday lost their ninth straight game in the last 10 contests and will finish with the worst record in the American League for the third time in the team’s history in Oakland. Meanwhile, the Angels’ seventh straight victory matches a season high and the club sits on the second wild-card spot and is a half-game ahead of Houston.

The three-game series between the California teams concludes tomorrow with first pitch at 4:05 p.m. at Angel Stadium.

Jessica Kwong is filling in for Jerry Feitelberg who covers the A’s on a regular basis for http://www.sportsradioservice.com, Jessica also works at the Orange County Register in the Southland